notes from the wall
from the 1996 Ocotillo Retreat
 the wall // General / No Ocotillo / New Ideas / Plus/Delta / Comments /

Comments...

  • Teachers are entertainers - the classroom is our stage.
  • Students want it fun, interesting and exciting.
  • Make us laugh.
  • Use real world industry experiences and personal experiences without getting off the subject.
  • Don't read from the book
  • Don't avoid answering our questions
  • Education must be relevant to real world situations.
  • Students want alternative teaching styles keeping up with the high technology world we are living in: Classes on Internet; Distance Learning Convenience
  • Discipline specific inter-college cooperation using colleges as specialty areas much like the "Magnet High Schools".
  • Offer the courses when the customer wants them.
    • Monday-Thursday
    • Tuesday-Friday
    • Saturdays
  • Professional Seminars - Accelerated weekend or evening courses
  • Offer faculty release time (or internships) to study industry related technology and alternative teaching techniques.
  • Provide training areas for faculty to research and incorporate alternative teaching techniques.
Thanks to everyone involved in making the retreat a great experience. While visiting Feedback Central I found myself rushed (with people waiting to input their feedback). I thought it best to offer you my notes. Would you be kind enough to replace "McGowan 3" with the following:
Ocotillo Retreat Prescott Resort May 20-21, 1996

During the school year we run into a variety of students with differing needs:

  • AA Degree - Degree Program
  • University Transfer - Transfer Program
  • Industry Skills - Certificated Program or Equipment Specific Courses
  • High School Graduates - High Achiever Degree or Transfer Program
  • High School Graduates - Lower Achiever Certificated Programs
  • Professional Seminars - To upgrade skills of industry professionals.

The student in search of an Associate Degree and the University Transfer Student require more of a well rounded education than students entering Maricopa simply to gain or update industry skills. A certificated program or specific hands-on courses are beneficial to this group of students who often come to us with Bachelor or Masters Degrees.

For the recent high school graduate entering Maricopa a Certificated Program could be the goal of a lower achieving student who is simply looking to enter the job world with marketable skills. The downside of the program is the lack of a well rounded education which could prove necessary for future corporate promotions.

For the recent high school graduate entering Maricopa a degree or transfer program could be the goal of a higher achiever. The well rounded education received could prove to be the advantage necessary in climbing the corporate ladder.

We have found the need to offer Professional Seminars to industry professionals looking to upgrade their skills. Technical seminars are often available through equipment manufacturers. These seminars are often very expensive and therefore not within budget consideration. In such as TV production the valley lacks authorized training facilities and therefore interested professionals often need to travel to Los Angeles or New York. Professional Seminars need to be offered in short extensive sessions during weekends or evening hours.